6 Reasons Your House Isn’t Selling

In an ideal world, you stick a sign in the yard, a pre-qualified Buyer shows up, and bada-bing-bada-boom — SOLD! In the real world though, home sales rarely happen that way.

The market in Metro Denver, and much of the country, remains strong; you can’t expect your home to sell overnight, but if your listing lingers on the market and showing activity begins to slump, chances are it’s not the market — it’s your house.

Read on for 6 potential reasons your house isn’t selling.

Reason #1: Bad photography. Your home needs to present beautifully in person, and online. The majority of Buyers begin their search online, and if your home photos are grainy, dim or unattractive, you may not pique enough interest to clinch a showing.

Reason #2: Lack of staging. Even in a Seller’s market, you can’t rest on your laurels and assume Buyers will fall for your home. Staging matters! Whether you pick up advice online and do your own staging, work with tips shared by your Realtor, or hire a pro — arranging your furniture, decluttering and depersonalizing your home will help your property appeal to more Buyers, and can ultimately lead to a higher selling price.

Reason #3: What’s that smell? Do not underestimate the potential for odors from pets, strong cooking smells or cigarette smoke to derail the sale of your home. Don’t rely on scented candles to cover up unpleasant smells; have your carpets and if necessary your furniture professionally cleaned, consider painting walls or ceilings in the kitchen or other problem areas to freshen the space, use unscented Febreze as necessary (especially before showings) and be diligent about tackling the litter box of other sources of odor while your house is on the market.

Reason #4: Ancient appliances. You don’t have to present Buyers with this year’s top of the line model refrigerator, dishwasher or stove, but if your appliances haven’t been en vogue since The Brady Bunch was new, you may want to consider an Appliance Allowance for potential Buyers. Dated appliances can drag the value of your home down.

Reason #5: The big “D.” Deferred maintenance is not an attractive look for any home. Cracked windowpanes, broken shower doors, wonky HVAC systems…when Buyers see a home in need of repair, they begin to wonder what larger issues lurk below the surface, and no one wants a risky investment. Replace broken items and have repairs made before your listing goes live to avoid these issues.

Reason #6: Your home is overpriced. If comparable homes are selling faster than yours, or several offers have come in significantly below asking price, it’s time to get real about the list price of your home. You, the Seller, don’t really set the price for your home; the market sets the price. If showings have slumped and homes similar to yours are selling, you need to take a look at comparable sold homes and adjust the list price accordingly.

DON’T SETTLE FOR A LAME DUCK LISTING. Drop me a line to let me know how I can help your home sell for top dollar and in a timely fashion.